Belleville News Democrat: State/Nation/World http://www.bnd.com/news/state/index.xml News, sports, and entertainment from Belleville News Democrat en-us Copyright 2009 Belleville News Democrat State/Nation/World 60 Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:33:40 CDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's PubSys support@Belleville.com Cast of characters on committee calling Sotomayor http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/841420.html http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/841420.html Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:09 CDT Live from the Capitol, Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings promise high political theater this week, beamed to the world in dramatic, historic, perhaps comedic glory. Kids recant abuse claims after dad jailed 20 years http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/841600.html http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/841600.html Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:09 CDT Former Vancouver police officer Clyde Ray Spencer spent nearly 20 years in prison after he was convicted of sexually molesting his son and daughter. Now, the children say it never happened. Woman was gagged before body found in NYC building http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/841724.html http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/841724.html Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:14 CDT A woman found dead in a skyscraper where a cleaning woman had vanished days earlier was bound and gagged and had a gold crucifix taped to her mouth, police said Sunday. Searchers shovel Northwest dirt seeking giant worm http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/841383.html http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/841383.html Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:49 CDT The giant Palouse earthworm has taken on mythic qualities in this vast agricultural region that stretches from eastern Washington into the Idaho panhandle - its very name evoking the fictional sandworms from "Dune" or those vicious creatures from the movie "Tremors." AP source: Holder considering torture probe http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/841717.html http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/841717.html Sun, 12 Jul 2009 08:43 CDT Contrary to White House wishes, Attorney General Eric Holder may push forward with a criminal investigation into the Bush administration's harsh interrogation practices used on suspected terrorists. Judge OK's $78,473.80 for Blago lawyers fees http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/841183.html http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/841183.html Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:14 CDT The judge presiding over former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's corruption case has approved the release of $78,473.80 from his campaign fund to pay his lawyers and buy them office equipment. 450 pit bulls seized in raids face tough odds http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/841469.html http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/841469.html Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:36 CDT Many of the 400-plus pit bulls seized in multistate dogfighting raids appear happy in their new digs at a temporary shelter in St. Louis, where one volunteer described them wagging their tails in seeming gratitude for newfound human contact. Body found at NY skyscraper where woman vanished http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/840671.html http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/840671.html Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:23 CDT A cleaning woman who improbably vanished days ago from a Manhattan skyscraper bristling with security cameras was finally found dead Saturday, stuffed inside an air conditioning duct on the 12th floor. Palin appears on gun rights radio talk show, hears from black bear-grilling Ted Nugent http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/840794.html http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/840794.html Sat, 11 Jul 2009 05:24 CDT Gun rights enthusiasts welcomed Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as she made an appearance Friday on a radio talk show, whose callers included rock n' roller turned avid hunter Ted Nugent. Burris out of 2010 run, Ill. Senate race wide open http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/839812.html http://www.bnd.com/news/state/story/839812.html Sat, 11 Jul 2009 05:44 CDT Embattled Sen. Roland Burris may have relieved Illinois Democrats of their biggest political headache and reduced Republican chances of capturing a valuable Senate seat next year by announcing Friday he won't run for a full term. Still, his withdrawal sets the stage for a major clash of political forces in 2010.